Trainings & Events

Coffee Talk is an adult lecture series designed by the Connecticut Science Center to fuel your brain and caffeinate your curiosity with intriguing topics and engaging presenters. The series begins on April 24^th and runs for 4 weeks every Wednesday morning from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

PART I: Offshore Wind Energy, April 24, Presented by Kenneth Bowes: Offshore wind energy has the potential to revolutionize the way we power our lives with its abundant, sustainable energy. However, we must tackle some pesky obstacles, including soaring costs, slow-moving permitting processes, not-in-my-backyard opposition, wildlife impacts, and global supply chain woes. In this presentation, we will take you through the exhilarating journey of building an offshore wind farm and provide some exciting strategies for overcoming these challenges.

PART II: The Blue Economy, May 1, Presented by Colleen L. Bielitz, PhD: Dive into the exciting world of the Blue Economy - where the ocean’s resources are utilized sustainably to boost economic growth without compromising the ecosystem’s health. In this presentation, we will explore the fascinating concept of biomimicry - a design technique that takes inspiration from nature - and how it can be harnessed to develop innovative and eco-friendly solutions for managing ocean resources.

PART III: Talking Trash, May 8, Presented by Jackson Somers, PhD: Join us as we delve into the fascinating and oftentimes overlooked world of waste management. From garbage and recycling to the latest advances in tackling food waste, this discussion promises to shed light on the industry’s many challenges today. With a special focus on Connecticut, we will explore the innovative solutions being implemented right now and the exciting possibilities for the future.

PART IV: Our Climate & Our Land, May 15, Presented by Guiling Wang, PhD: Embark on a voyage through Earth’s dynamic ecosystems, where the interplay between climate change and land use unfolds in a compelling saga of resilience and adaptation. As these colossal forces collide, they sculpt our landscapes, providing challenges as well as opportunities for ecosystem services. From verdant rainforests to rugged mountainsides, each corner of our planet weaves a narrative of adaptation, highlighting the invincible essence of Mother Nature herself.

Ticket Prices:

$40 - Series Bundle Includes Mug Purchase by April 24

$12 - Individual Session

$8 - Coffee Talk Ceramic Mug

Each ticket includes the lecture, light refreshments, and a $5 parking voucher.

Tickets are available at CTScienceCenter.org or by calling 860-520-2104 or emailing [email protected].
 

Mark your calendars for our next EJ Open Office Hours on Wednesday, May 08, 2024, from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM. This is a great opportunity to connect with DEEP’s EJ Office and share your thoughts about environmental justice issues in your communities. Click here to join the meeting. Can’t join this month, join them again on the third Wednesday in June (June 19th)!
 

The Region 1 virtual resource fair is an online event that will showcase the open competitive grant programs for nonprofit organizations including Community Change Grants and unique Region 1 programs including the Healthy Communities Grant Program.

During the event you will learn more about the requirements and eligibility to apply to these funding opportunities, information about available technical assistance, and have a chance to network with and connect with organizations in your state. The resource fair will include time for multiple breakout rooms for both state-specific network building and connecting with technical assistance for the Community Change Grants Program. Participation is encouraged for community-based organizations throughout EPA Region 1, including those in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont, as well as Federally Recognized Tribal Nations and state recognized Tribes.

Please use this form to register. You will receive the ZoomGov link to participate a week before the event. Advance registration will help us ensure we have the right breakout rooms available for everyone interested and is greatly appreciated. Registration will remain open until the event begins. Language translation needs for the plenary presentation must be received by April 26, 2024. 

All registrants will receive a calendar invite (sent out daily) and email reminder before the event. Thank you!
Event link: https://www.zoomgov.com/j/1613435897?pwd=Z1d0WjI3VVM0VUVuTU5VdHV3QVRLdz09
 

Join Sustainable CT and Diane Ifkovic from DEEP to learn more about how your municipality can pursue floodplain management strategies through the National Flood Insurance Program's Community Rating System (CRS). There will be information about the CRS program, available resources, and earning Sustainable CT certification points under Action 5.9.

This webinar is eligible for Certified Connecticut Municipal Official (CCMO) professional development credit from the CT Conference of Municipalities.
 

This conference began as a response to a recommendation by the Long Island Sound Assembly that there should be a venue where all of the current science relating to Long Island Sound could be presented.  The first Long Island Sound Research Conference occurred in 1992. 

The idea was to gather scientists and students from all of the relevant disciplines together, to present and synthesize a big picture of Long Island Sound science. Proceedings volumes were produced, and are still available from Sea Grant via the NOAA Central Library.

Historically, the conference was organized by the Long Island Sound Foundation until 2016, after which the Sea Grant programs of Connecticut and New York. shared in the responsibilities. 

Support for the Long Island Sound Research Conference is provided by the Long Island Sound Study.

Registration: $40 / $30 students
 

Come join the UConn Technical Assistance for Bronwfields program for a webinar on past New England MARC Grant Recipients. Come to learn some tips and tricks for managing your EPA Brownfields grant.
 

This free, three-part, virtual equity workshop series provides a comprehensive framework of racial equity, diversity, and inclusion. Attendance at all three sessions is required. Sessions run 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm on: April 10, May 15, and June 12. Content will be geared to help Sustainability Teams integrate equity considerations into their Sustainable CT initiatives. Who should attend? Sustainability Team members (elected officials, municipal staff, commissioners, volunteers) in registered Sustainable CT communities. Attendance is capped at 35. This will be a live training and will not be recorded. Please only sign up if you intend to participate for the duration of each session.

Attendees will participate in three different workshops:

Beyond Unconscious Bias: Creating Systemic Change (April 10): This workshop goes beyond recognizing unconscious bias to crafting strategies for systemic change. Municipal leaders will learn how to audit policies and practices for bias, engage in reform, and implement long-term strategies for inclusivity. The session offers a mix of theoretical insights and practical tools to reshape the municipal landscape for equity and justice.

Race and Community: Deepening Engagement and Solidarity (May 15): This workshop is designed to deepen community engagement around issues of race and racism. Participants will learn about solidarity-based strategies and how to support movements for racial justice at the local level. This interactive session will focus on building partnerships, coalitions, and networks that can amplify efforts to challenge racism and build equitable communities.

Persuasion for Progress: Influencing Change in Community Attitudes (June 12): Aiming to create progressive shifts in community attitudes, this workshop provides participants with nuanced approaches to persuasion. Understanding that change often meets resistance, this session equips leaders with psychological insights and advanced communication strategies to transform skepticism into support for the Be READI© principles.

This webinar is eligible for Certified Connecticut Municipal Official (CCMO) professional development credit from the CT Conference of Municipalities.
 

Join Sustainable CT for virtual, informal, discussions most third Fridays of each month. We share program updates and resources, explore your questions, and strengthen the network of Sustainable CT champions. These sessions are free and open to all.
 

In light of the recent announcement of Greenhouse Gas Reduction Funds (GGRF) by the EPA, the Connecticut Green Bank is cordially inviting you to attend a workshop designed for elected officials, energy/sustainability task force members, school officials, and other municipal leaders. Their goal is to engage in meaningful dialogue about how federal funds can facilitate the shift towards financing for sustainable, resilient, and greener schools, school buses, other municipal facilities, and green environmental infrastructure, while also identifying and addressing any barriers to this transition. The Green Bank is excited for this opportunity, and they hope you can attend this engaging, impactful workshop!

Click here to learn more about the agenda and register to attend.
 

This two day workshop will provide participants with the foundational knowledge and skills to use Motivational Interviewing (MI) with their clients. Across a broad range of care settings, successfully engaging and harnessing clients’ own motivations for making important life changes is a key ingredient for success. The most efficient way to understand the dynamics of the MI model, and to develop competency, is through practice -- learning by doing. Therefore, these sessions are highly interactive, incorporating structured learning activities including case examples, audio/video-recorded work samples, small group exercises, and “real”-plays. In this workshop participants will be progressively guided to improve their skills from basic to more advanced levels. Most importantly, they will be able to transfer and incorporate newly learned MI skills into real-world interactions.

Over the course of this workshop, participants will become familiar with the basic theory of MI, the skills for fostering an effective working alliance, and practice ways of responding effectively to challenging client statements to de-escalate conflict. Emphasis will also be placed on fine-tuning participants’ ability to recognize, evoke, and respond to client “change language,” an essential skill for fostering awareness and motivation. The materials and examples will be tailored to scenarios involving housing and homelessness issues.

Workshop Pricing:

CCEH Member Rate: $125

Non-Member Rate: $140
 

Our Spring into Summer 2024 event will take place at ;Wickham Park in Manchester on June 11 from 4 to 7 p.m.

We're coming full circle - back to the place where we celebrated those who participated in creating Sustainable CT with a "party in the park" in July, 2017. This year, in addition to celebrating the progress Connecticut communities have made over the years, we'll also be bidding farewell to our retiring executive director and founder, Lynn Stoddard. We’ll provide light fare and good cheer, and beautiful Wickham Park will provide the ambiance.

Sponsorship opportunities are available! Join us in working for a better Connecticut. By sponsoring our Spring into Summer 2024 event, you'll align your company with our reputation as a trusted and valuable support program for municipal leaders and an innovative thought-leader in building livable communities. Don't wait: contact Lynn Stoddard,; 860-259-4729, to discuss options and details. And visit our Sponsor Us page to discover the many different ways you can support our work and mission.
 

Join the Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness at the Annual Training Institute to elevate your impact in ending homelessness. This essential gathering empowers participants with cutting-edge strategies and collaborative opportunities to transform our approach to homelessness in Connecticut. Ready to be part of the change? Register and learn how we're reimagining solutions and building a future where everyone has a place to call home.

Pricing

Standard / Non-Member - $160.00

Member - $130.00
 

Sustainable CT is pleased to partner with Eversource Energy, United Illuminating, and the Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology’s SmartBuildings CT program to provide energy benchmarking and tracking support to registered Sustainable CT communities within the utility company service territories.

Learn more about the SmartBuildings CT program and how it might help your municipality by earning points towards actions 7.1 Benchmark and Track Energy Use, 7.2 Reduce Energy Use Across All Municipal Buildings, and/or 7.4 Increase Use of Renewable Energy in Municipal Buildings.
 

This free, three-part, virtual equity workshop series provides a comprehensive framework of racial equity, diversity, and inclusion. Attendance at all three sessions is required. Sessions run 10:00 am – 12:00 pm on: June 13, July 11, and August 1. Content will be geared to help Sustainability Teams integrate equity considerations into their Sustainable CT initiatives. Who should attend? Sustainability Team members (elected officials, municipal staff, commissioners, volunteers) in registered Sustainable CT communities. Attendance is capped at 35. This will be a live training and will not be recorded. Please only sign up if you intend to participate for the duration of each session.

Attendees will participate in three different workshops:

Be READI© Leadership: Championing Equity at the Forefront (June 13): This workshop is tailored for those who are ready to lead by example in the realm of equity and inclusion. Building upon the principles and strategies discussed in previous equity training series, this workshop aims to cultivate leaders who not only understand the Be READI© framework but can also effectively champion these values within their municipalities. Participants will explore advanced leadership techniques, including how to influence organizational culture, inspire teams, and lead equitable change initiatives that yield measurable results.

Measuring What Matters: Assessing DEI Impact in Municipalities (July 11): This workshop focuses on the importance of tracking progress and evaluating the impact of DEI initiatives. This hands-on workshop guides participants through the creation of effective assessment tools and indicators that align with the Be READI© framework. Municipal leaders will learn how to collect and analyze data, report on findings, and use insights to drive continuous improvement and accountability in DEI efforts.

Sustainable Change: Institutionalizing Be READI© Practices (August 1): This workshop is designed to ensure the longevity and resilience of DEI efforts. This session will help participants identify and implement policies and practices that embed the principles of Belonging, relevant equity, access, accountability diversity, and inclusion into the DNA of municipal operations. Leaders will be equipped with strategies for policy development, stakeholder engagement, and the creation of a municipal infrastructure that supports lasting DEI integration.
 

Join Sustainable CT Equity Coaches for “Equity Connections” – regular opportunities to share your questions about equity actions, challenges, successes, or just listen to the conversation, and get ideas on how to approach or deepen your equity work. Municipal officials, staff, and Sustainability Team members are welcome to join the Sustainable CT team for these new bi-monthly virtual sharing sessions.
 

Join Sustainable CT for virtual, informal, discussions most third Fridays of each month. We share program updates and resources, explore your questions, and strengthen the network of Sustainable CT champions. These sessions are free and open to all.
 

Join Sustainable CT for virtual, informal, discussions most third Fridays of each month. We share program updates and resources, explore your questions, and strengthen the network of Sustainable CT champions. These sessions are free and open to all.
 

Join Sustainable CT for virtual, informal, discussions most third Fridays of each month. We share program updates and resources, explore your questions, and strengthen the network of Sustainable CT champions. These sessions are free and open to all.
 

Join Sustainable CT for virtual, informal, discussions most third Fridays of each month. We share program updates and resources, explore your questions, and strengthen the network of Sustainable CT champions. These sessions are free and open to all.
 

Join Sustainable CT for virtual, informal, discussions most third Fridays of each month. We share program updates and resources, explore your questions, and strengthen the network of Sustainable CT champions. These sessions are free and open to all.
 

Join Sustainable CT for virtual, informal, discussions most third Fridays of each month. We share program updates and resources, explore your questions, and strengthen the network of Sustainable CT champions. These sessions are free and open to all.
 

Join Sustainable CT for virtual, informal, discussions most third Fridays of each month. We share program updates and resources, explore your questions, and strengthen the network of Sustainable CT champions. These sessions are free and open to all.